PN hits back at 'poison letter' claim, says DAP out to threaten Umno

MAHKOTA BY-ELECTION | A Bersatu leader has hit out at DAP’s claims that Perikatan Nasional had orchestrated the distribution of letters urging Chinese voters to reject Umno’s candidate Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah.

Badrul Hisham Shaharin, also known as Chegubard, demanded an apology from Kluang MP Wong Shu Qi who yesterday revealed that the alleged letters had been placed in mailboxes of voters’ homes.

“You (DAP) want to drag us in a game. But we’re not interested. We are very busy with the people’s issues.

“Today we demand an apology from the DAP Kluang MP,” said the Bersatu information committee member at a press conference in Kluang today.

Yesterday, Wong said the letters were in Chinese and titled “A call to voters in the Mahkota by-election: We hope to see fair treatment for all people in Johor”.

The letters were also signed “The people of Kluang, Johor, and Pakatan Harapan supporter Lin Wei Jie”.

Race card

Badrul (above, second from right) accused the DAP of attempts to play the race card as part of its by-election campaign.

“I am sorry. That may be your game and you are used to it. You are used to lies, used to poison letters.

“That is your game. We don’t have time for that. We are faced with the people’s problems,” he stressed.

Johor PN Youth election director Mohd Idzharruddin Nasirruddin, who dismissed the claim, also accused the DAP of being the real mastermind behind the letter - in an alleged attempt to threaten Umno.

“The press conference (by Wong) appears to be an attempt to share contents of the letter to the media,” said Idzharruddin who cited a Malaysiakini report.

Contents of letter

Among contents of the letter include that Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh has continually stirred up sensitive issues to provoke ethnic sentiments, including his verbal attack against DAP vice-chairperson Teresa Kok over the halal certification issue.

Wong, however, yesterday pointed to Umno for a response, when asked whether the points raised in the letter against Akmal would affect Harapan’s campaign strategy.

Idzharruddin also cited a separate Berita Harian report that quoted Wanita DAP chief Teo Nie Ching as admitting that some segments of Chinese voters were “uncomfortable” with Umno.

“All of these incidents and statements from DAP leaders appear to show that the DAP is trying to threaten and pressure Umno into forming a unity government in Johor,” he claimed.

He further questioned whether BN would yield to DAP’s alleged threats and pressure, or remain with the Umno-led administration under Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi.

On the campaign trail for PN’s Haizan Jaafar, Bersatu supreme council member Azmin Ali on Thursday asked Onn, who is also Johor BN chief, whether Umno will establish a unity government in the state if the coalition wins in Mahkota.

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